Underframe for railway cars



Jly 28, 1925.

A. CAMPBELL UNDERFRAME FOR RAILWAYv CARS 2 Shei-Sheet l F'ild Nov. 5. 1923 Ina/@mr A ryye ahyneZZ 55W f l-/fs A fom ef/ July 28, 1925,

A. CAMPBELL UNDERFRAM FOR RAILWAY CARS Patented July 28, 19215.`

e UNriE'D STATES PATENT orifice.

`aRavLE CAMPBELL, or orIIoiioog ILLINOIS, AssIGNoR To ENTERPRISE RAILWAY EQUIPMENT coMrANv, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION or ILLINOIS.

p UN'DERFRAME roR RAILWAY CARS.

`Application led November 3, 1923. Serial' No.'672,463. g

To all lwhom t 'may conce/m:

Be it known that/I, ARGYLE CAMPBELL, a

y citizen of the United States, residing at/f Chitcago, in thercounty ofvCook and State of illinois, have inventedia certainnew and useful Improvement in llnderframes for Railway Cars-of which the followingis a full, clear, concise,` and exactl description, reference being had. to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specifica-v tion.

My 'invention relates to `improvements in underframes for railway cars, andfespecially to the type ofy dump car wherein the draft or center sills are intercepted by a dumping `lio per.

. n' object of this invention is to provide a central draft sill member of improved construction and of 'great strength and durability and one which will simplify the construction of the car'by eliminating a number of parts.

A main obje t of the invention is to con-` struct the draft sills and allied parts in suoli a manner that the usual weakness of the draft attachments due tocshearing of rivets will be eliminated.

lt is also a further object of this invention to provide .a `novel means of attaching 'a draft member to the underfiame of ra car in such a manner that the stresses due ytobiiifin and pulling strains will be properly distributed to the side sills. f

rlhe invention furthermore consists in the improvements in the partsand devices, and in thenovel combinations off parjtsand devices herein shown, described Kand claimed.

` i Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a i horizontal plan ,view of the end portionof the underframe of a car showing the improved draftfsill member and the adjacent memben Figure 4 is a side elevational viewof the draft sill member shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5`is an end elevational view of they Figure 6 is avertical,

draftsill member. longitudinal, section taken on line 6-6 of Figure 3. Figure 7 is a vertical, transverse,

sectional view taken on line 7-7 of Figure 4. inasmuch as the structure onv both sides of the longitudinal center line of the car is vertical wa p zontall disposed upper wall 14, the verti(` the same,`only one side of the car isl shown and described, and it will also be understood that the same structure is employed/at each end ofthe car.y In the drawings','A represents the draft sill member, B -B the draft isills,C' one of the side sills, Dd one of the diagonal connecting members between the draft' sill member and one loftthe, side sills,/E\thejbol ster diaphragms, F the bolstenbottom cover plate, G one of the upper horizontal bracing plates, H the lower horizontal bracing plates, J a draft yoke, K a couplerand L a l coupler connecting key. I

The draft sills B-,B extendingf longitudinally of the car being shown as channels each formed with a diverging portion as at l0 in order to present a transversely widened.

space therebetween for the purpose of accommodating a car door operating mechanism, said sills B-B extending forwardl toia'point substantially inali'gnment wit the outer edge of the body bolster bottom Iplate Disposed between the drafty sills.

B-B and secured thereto I provide aheavy draft sill member A formed ofa casting, said casting having al strikingl face 11 formed integrally therewith against which the horn 12 of the coupler is adapted to' strike. p ferred form is box shaped having spaced lls`13-13 united by a hori- Said `draft member A., in its pre-y i cal wa ls are braced` centrally of the bolster .bya structureconstituting a filler between the draft sills and consisting'of a lower wall 15, vertical transversely extending ribbing at 16 and horizontal ribs 17-17 which also serve to brace the heavy transverse vertical wall 18 constituting the rear draft gear abut` y ment, said wall 18 is formed integrally with the vertical walls 13-13 and the upper wall 14. The longitudinal vertical walls 13-13 Vof the draft member A are each' extended rearwardly of the bolster a sufficient distance to overlap the diverging ortion 10 of the sills B-B and-are secure thereto by means of rivets 19. The front draft ,geary abutment consists of upper and lower portions, the abutment consists of upper trans.- vers'e vertical wall 20 formed integrally with the vertical walls 13.-13 and the upper wall 14, and the lower draft gear abutment con. sists of a transverse vertically extending walldl depending below and united iii-A tegreny wehe venian walls .1a-*13 directly .andI by meansl "of, a horizontally extending 4wall 22 Vintegrally `formed withI the ytransverse vertical wall 21 and the vertical walls l1313. The horizontal ywall 22 f is' preferably so-dispos`ed in relation to the vertical i' versely ex-tending 'verticaliwall `24I at the inner end'thereofI and which is adapted to abut Vagainst the rear draftgearabutinent 18. At its 'outer endv each wall i23"`of ydraft yoke J iis `provided'with anelongated slot k124 through which. the coupler connecting key L extends and Whereb a connectionI is effected between the ,yoke land thev coupler K. They vertical walls|13413- of the draft member are `each formed with an elongated slot- 25 adapted to accommodate! thel draft key, which formsa support for the outer endof' the yoke J and thefinner end ofthe coupler K. Intermediate the` draft gear abutments; thel vertical walls 13-7- 13 of the draft memberl are each 'provided with .an

outstanding horizontally extending shelf 26- Whch acts as a support for the yoke. Raised portions 27-27 formed on the respective side walls 13-13of the draft member act as guides for the yoke and prevent undue sidewise movement thereof.

In order-to providelongitudinal stiffness forthe side walls 13-13 of theV draft members and provide suitable. connecting means between the lsame and other portions ofthe car underframe an upper flange 28 and a lower-fiange 29 are provided on each sideof the member thereby providing channel shape Walls from a ypoint substantially from the end of the draft sills B,-B to the end of the car. The lower flange .29 is connectedto the bolster bottom cover plate F by means of a gusset plateH which is securely riveted to both of said members. The upper surface` of the upper-flange 28 is substantially on the same level as the pper surfaces of the bolstersections E, the upper surface of the channel draft sills B and the upper surface of the upper flange 30 of the side sill C, and al connection between lthese members is effected by means of a horizontally extending plate G which is riveted to each-of the said respective members and also to the upper flange 31 of a transversely extending member 32 which preferably extends between the side sills and also preferably constitutes a portion of the end Wall of a dumpin hopper.-

hile the plate G and the members connecting" therewith are shownon only one be understood -tliat'the construction ofthe @asis (replicated oaf bothisides of the engi-- d pulling shocks to .side of the `longitudinal center off'car, it= will at33 and'the: channel sidefsill member C bent' at 341i` .theires'pective members being contlnuedside by'lside to bothf` sides of the bend therein; 'for-"Qca, limited distance and rii'feted together, thereby providing a double thicknessyof material at the' bend. The

webs of the res`V` ective members() and D are further secure togetherI 35-which is secured directly to the sill by means of rivets 3,6 and directly to the member D by means of rivets 3.7 and to both of the side members G and D, by means ofrivets 38.

A su lementary reinforcing member 39,v prefera y formed of a heavy angle is disposed intermediately of the draft sill B and the draft member D and extends fromv the means of a plate bolster to the transverse member 32 at an angle to the lineof draft and is suitably secured to both of said members and to the plate Gr, .thereby serving to lrigidify the said plate G and assist the inclined draft member D to transmit draft strains from the centrally disposed draft sills to the ywidel spaced side sills C. The outer end of eachv draft member D is secured to a bracket portion 40 extending outwardly from the draft member and formed` integrally with the top V fiange 28 thereof, one of saidbrackets being disposed on either side of the longitudinal center of'car.' At the end o f the draft mera ber there is a vertically extending flange or web 41 connecting the upper and lower flanges 28 and 29 which greatly rigidifies the wall 13 and forms a suitable bracing for the bracket portion 40.

The underframe is tied transversely by means of bolster bottom cover plate F and by means of the transversely extending 1ne1nber 32 .which may be of a single ieee or a plurality of parts suitably joine Vtogether and secured at its ends t0 the side sills C as indicated at 42 and also by means of a lower gusset 43. When the said transverse member 32 is formed to constitute a portion of the end wall of a dumping hopper the draft sills B-B then termi-nate thereat being conlilo nected to the same by means of connections 44 which serve to effectively space the inner y ends of said sills.

The vdraft gear 45 isinserted from below and held in position by means of' a draft gear carrying plate 46 which is bolted or otherwise secured to' the flanges 29 of the Ydraft gear abutment. The coupler is inserted' from the end of the car between the vertical walls 23-23 of the yoke J and is supported in position by means of a coupler carrier 47 which rests on lugs 48 and is also bolted to the outwardly extending flanges 29. Connection between the coupler K and the yoke J is effected by means of the key L in the. manner already described.

It has heretofore been a matter of considerable difficulty to insert a connecting key through the draft member in. instances where diagonal reinforcing members diverge outwardly from the ends of the car towards the sides thereof and I overcome this difficulty by providing the beamsD of a very heavy section and of a comparatively shallow depth so that the same may be disposed above the key slot 25 and still possess the requisite strength to adequately transmit the heavy Hdraft shocks encountered in service.

I ha've-herein shown and described what I now consider a preferred manner of carrying out the invention, but the same is merely illustrative and I contemplate all changes and modifications that come within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

l. In a railway car, the combination with a centrally disposed draft member provided with a draft key slot; of side sills disposed on either side thereof and terminating at an appreciable distance from the end' of the car; and connections respectively connecting each side sill ywith the draft member, each ofsaidconnections extending at an angle to the line of `draft and being of less depth than the draft member thereby permitting the passage of a draft key beneath the angularly disposed connections and through the central draft member.

2. In a railway car, the combination with side sills; of a transversely extending structure; body bolsters disposed intermediately of said transverse structure and the end'of the car; draft sills extending from the transverse Istructure towards the end of the car; a draft member disposed betweenthe draft sills and secured thereto, said member extending from the bolster to the end of the car; an outer member secured tol the draft member on each' side thereof and extendine` at an angle to the line of draftand secured to the corresponding side sill; a plate connecting said draft member with the said outer member; and additional reinforcing means between the body bolster to the transverse structure` said additional means comprising a member extending at an angle to the line of draft from the body bolster to the transverse structure.

3. As an article of manufacture, a box shaped draft member having formed inte'- grally therewith: spaced parallel vertical walls connected by means of a-horizontally extending upper wall; a rear draft gear abutment comprising a transverse wall uniting said vertical walls; and a front draft gear abutment connecting the aforesaid vertical walls and depending below the same.

4. As an article of manufacture, a box shaped draft member having formed integrally therewith: spaced parallel vertical walls connected by means of a horizontally extending upper wall; a rear draft ear abutment comprising a transverse wal uniting said vertical walls; and a front draft gear abutment forming a beam of` .T -shape and connecting the aforesaid vertical walls.

5. As an article of manufacture a box shaped draft member having:Y spacedk parallel vertical' walls connected by lmeans of a horizontally exteif'fdin'g` upper wall;l a` rear draft gear abutment comprising a transverse wall uniting said vertical walls; a front .draft gear abutment formed of upper and tically spaced walls.

6. As an article of manufacture, a draft casting embodying in'a one piece member: a coupler stop, front and rear draft gear follower abutments, draft gear Ayoke `carrying means and a bolster center brace.

f. In a railway car a draft member pre.- senting: a plurality of spaced vert-ical portions; a horizontally extending 'upper -wall connecting the said vertical portions; a transverse wall at the rear end thereof connecting said vertical portions; a plurality of beams connecting the vertical portions near the front end of the draft member, said beam portions being separated in a vertical direction by an intervening space adapted` for the passage of a draft yoke therethrough.

8. The combination with an integral draft member having a plurality of spaced vertical walls; of a horizontal upper wallronnecting said vertical walls; front and rear draf( gear abutmcnts extending transversely betw'eenthe aforesaid spaced vertical walls. the aforesaid front abutment being formed of two beams separated -by` an intervening space; and a yoke adapted to abut against the rear abutment and pass through the intervening space between the beams constituting the frontabutment.

9. In a railway car the combination with a body bolster; of draft sills intersecting the same, said draft sills diverging inwardly of the bolster thereby presenting a transversely widened portion between holsters:

lill) 10. In a railway car, the combinationwith .8 body bolster; -of draft sills passing through the same and terminating substan tially in alignment therewith; said draft sills being iformed of channel members yhaving the yflanges thereof facing outwardly; a draft member lying within the said channels and secured thereto, said member extendingoutwardly to the end of the car and presenting a couplerstriking face; and a plate connecting the upper flange of. each channel sill with the draft member.

11. In a railway car, the combination with a body bolster; of draft sills intersecting the same and composed of channel shaped members extending through the body bolster and terminating substantially in alignment therewith; and a one piece draft member extending from the end of the car through the body bolster and rearwardly ofy the same, said draft member lying between the draft sills and being secured thereto rearwardly of the bolster.

12. In a railway carl the combination with a body bolsterprovided with a bottom plate; of draft sills, said sills terminating an appreciable distance'from the end of the car; a bolster bottom co'ver plate extending across the draft sills; a unitary draft member disposed between the draft sills and forming a continuation of the draft sills to the end of the car, said member having outer vertical walls, each provided with a flange outstanding therefrom; and a substantially horizontally disposed plate connecting said' lowerflange with the bolster bottom plate.

13. In a railway car, the combination with draft sills of channel shape, said sills terminating an appreciable'distance from the end of the car; of a unitary draft member disposed between vthe sills and forminga continuation of the draft sills, said member having outer vertical walls thereof each rovided with an up er flange outstan ing therefrom iand a orizontally extending plate connecting each of said upper fianges with upper flange of a draft sill.

14. In a railway car, the combination with a body bolster; of draft sills intersecting the same, and spaced apart; and a draft member extending across said body bolster disposed between the said draft sills and connectedl thereto, said member having a plurality of vertically extending walls spaced apart and' united by a horizontally extending upper wall, the vertically extending walls being of channel shape with the Hanges thereof facing outwardl and connecting plates between the body lster and the respective upper and lower flanges.

15. In a railway car, the combination with a body bolster and side sills; of draft sills terminating an appreciable distance from the end of the car; a draft member, secured to t-he Vdraft sills and extending to the end ofthe car; a membersecured to the draft member on eachside thereof and extending at an angle to the line of draft and secured to the corresponding side sill; and a plate connecting each of the aforesaid draft sills with one side of the draft member, a. side sill, one of the said angularly disposed members and the bodyy bolsten' 16: Ina railway car, the combination with side sills; of draft sills; bolster sections extending outwardly from the draft sills; a

draft member disposed between the sills and draft member andl disposedon either side thereof; and members extending at an angle to the line of draft, secured to said brackets and side sills.` n

18. In a railway car, the combination with side sills; of draft sills; a centrally disposed draft member secured to the draft sills and disposed therebetween, said draft member having integral brackets outstanding therefrom and disposed on either side thereof; and a Z bar disposed on each side of the draft sill, each Z bar having the` web thereof connected to one of the said brackets and to the corresponding side sill, each of said Z-bars extending atan angle to the line of draft.

19. In a railway ear, the combination with draft sills and side sills; of a Z-bar disposed Ion each side of the draft sills, at an angle to the line of draft; each said Z-bar having the web thereof respectively connected to the corresponding draft and side sills: a top plate connecting the top flange of each Z-bar with the corresponding draft sill; and a bolster bottom cover plate extending transversely of the car and secured to the lower flange of each Z-Ibar.

20. As an article of manufacture, a box shaped integral draft member having vertically spaced parallel walls and continuous front and reardraft gear abutments extending transversely of the draft member and integrally connected with the vertical walls,

said front draft gear abutments comprising upper and lower beams spaced apart and adapted for the reception of a draft yoke.

21, Asian article of manufacture, a box shaped integral draft memberhaving-l vertically spaoed'parallel Walls nitedbyltrans- Verselyextending front'and rear draft gear abutments, and yoke-carrying yledges outstanding from thevertical lWalls'"and disposed intermediate .the aforesaid front and rear abutments. Y.

22. In a railway car, the combination with side sills; of a centrally disposed draft mem# ber including a coupler striking face, said draft member-having' brackets formed integrally therewith and disposedon either .side thereof; means connected tosaid. brackets and .extending at an angle to the line of draft toward the'side sills for the purpose 15 of transmitting buiing shocks; and connecting means between said angularly disposed members and the side sills.

' In Witness that I claim the foregoing I` have hereunto subscribed my name this 26th 20 day of October, 1923.

y p ARGYLE CAMPBELL. Witnesses:

FRANCES SAVAGE, HARRIE'ITE M. BEAMER. 

